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Qantas partnering with Samsung to trial the use of Gear VR headsets

Qantas Airways Limited, the flag carrier of Australia is partnering with Samsung to trial the use of Gear VR headsets. The main aim behind it is to provide a much more immersive in-flight entertainment experience to the customers.

Qantas claims that this will provide a first class travel experience on select Airbus A380 services between Australia and Los Angeles. In this, all the passengers will be able to experience 360-degree virtual tours of select destinations. This would also include specially developed content as well as accessing the usual selection of Hollywood blockbuster movies.

Olivia Wirth, Brand, Marketing & Corporate Affairs at Qantas Group Executive, said, "Whether the user wants a virtual tour of our new Los Angeles First Lounge or to experience an A380 landing from the tarmac, this technology gives us a completely new way to connect with our customers. From an in-flight entertainment perspective, it's an industry first".

Wirth added that Qantas is committed to being at the forefront of innovation when it comes to provide their passengers the very best and latest in-flight experiences.

This trial will be done initially for a span of just three months. During this time, these VR headsets will also be made available to customers using Sydney's or Melbourne's International First Lounge.

The approval of these handsets to become a standard first-class perk will be based on customer feedback only. Despite this fact, Qantas is confident that through the approval of these handsets there will be addition of virtual reality and that is something that really adds a new dimension to in-flight entertainment. For the entrainment part, Qantas has already started partnering with organizations to develop original content.

It has been decided that Qantas will start equipping its Sydney and Melbourne International First Lounges with the headsets sometime around mid-February and the in-air trial will begin in March.